University of Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland with a population of about 400,000. From 2006-2008, it was named the city with the best quality of life and also ranks among the top ten most liveable cities in the world. Being a cultural, political, and financial hub in Switzerland, there are always fun things to do. The city is full of cultural events – over 30 museums, art galleries, auction houses, the opera, orchestras, and the Schauspielhaus theatre, as well as a number of performance spaces that encourage contemporary artists in all media. There are many fashionable and enjoyable bars, cafés, and restaurants throughout Old Town. Zurich aptly promotes itself as the "little big city" and has a historic center small enough to be explored on foot.

The University of Zurich enjoys a rich history of academic excellence, which dates back to its founding in 1833. It produced the very first winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics (Wilhelm Roentgen), and has employed no fewer than 11 Nobel Prize winners as professors.Today, the university enjoys international acclaim for its education and research. The University of Zurich's international reputation is based on groundbreaking research, particularly in molecular biology, brain research, and anthropology, and on the work of the University Hospital and Veterinary Hospital. It is the largest university in Switzerland, with 25,000 students, approximately 2,500 of which are international students.

The University of Zurich is an urban campus, with buildings located throughout the city. Students benefit from not only the excellence of the university but also from the rich array of cultural resources found in the city of Zurich. Apart from its own institutions, the University offers its members access to archive collections, libraries, and the facilities of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), as well as to the city's private institutions. Nine museums and collections, covering subjects from anthropology to zoology, constitute yet another valuable academic resource.

Zurich is an AMAZING city with so much to offer! To get an idea of just some of the fun, unique experiences you can have, check out this Zurich Bucket List.

ACADEMICS

The language spoken in most lectures and courses is German (1,600+ courses), however there are still 450+ courses taught in English. Students who have completed up to GER303 and GER304W (or their equivalent) can take regular university courses in German.

To search through all the courses, go to thiscourse catalog. There are about 5,000 courses listed, so to narrow your search:

Select "Bachelor's" for the Academic Level so you aren't looking at Master's or Doctoral courses.

If you're looking to take classes in your major/minor, select which Faculty (department) that is closest to your major/minor. For example, you can select the Faculty of Business, Science, Arts, etc.

Select your preferred language of instruction: German or English.

To find courses in English in these specific faculties/departments, follow the links below:

Cross-faculty (department) course booking is allowed in certain majors, however students should attend most of their coursework in their major and/or minor.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: no cross-level booking.

Faculty of Sciences: cross-level booking is allowed.

English Department (English Language and Literature): students who are not enrolled in English Language and Literature at their home university may take up to two courses (must be lectures) offered by the English Department only.

If a course title is in English it will be offered in English. If a course title is in German it will be offered in German.

German Language Courses

As German language skills are important not only for your studies at the University of Zurich, but also for everyday life in Switzerland, we strongly advise all exchange students to take a German course – even if you plan to study in English. It's nice to be able to order a coffee or buy a train ticket in the local language! The Language Center at UZH offers intensive courses in German as a foreign language at different levels during the two weeks before lectures begin. This course is suitable for beginner students with little or no experience with German. There is a registration fee of approximately $100.

In addition, you can take a regular semester course along with the rest of your classes. However, taking additional German language courses could have an extra fee and would need to be approved prior to your exchange as there is high demand for these classes.

You can find more information about these German language offerings here.

If students sit the exam successfully, the German language courses are worth 1 NAU credit for each class.

International University of Lake Constance (IBH) Summer School Intensive Language Program

Prior to the start of the Fall term at the University of Zurich, admitted exchange students are eligible to apply for the IBH Summer School Intensive Language Program. Intensive language courses are offered at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. The language program takes place at the University of Konstanz, Germany. The language course will be accompanied by a welcome program in the afternoons and on the first weekend. It includes lectures on the history, art, culture, and politics of Germany, as well as guided tours, visits to towns, and excursions in the Lake Constance region. If chosen for the program, the University of Zurich will pay the tuition and board for student's participation. The number of participants in limited. Talk to your Education Abroad Advisor, Michelle Harvancik, for more information.

Getting Credit for Studies Abroad

Students who wish to receive academic credit (aside from general elective and liberal studies credit) must have their courses pre-approved by the appropriate department. To view a list of academic advisors, please review the information in our Academics section. Once you apply through our website, you will be able to enter the classes you wish to take electronically. These classes can be reviewed and approved directly by faculty once entered. If you would like courses abroad to count for general elective credit or liberal studies credit only, please contact your Education Abroad advisor for those approvals.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Fall Semester: August 1 to January 31
Spring Semester: February 1 to July 31*

*Students may attend this university for either the entire academic year or for one semester only. Students wishing to study for one semester only must go during the Spring semester.

HOUSING

The University of Zurich does not have any university-owned accommodations. Housing for students is offered by different institutions that are connected with the University, but operate independently. There is a high demand for housing in Zurich, so it's very important to start looking for accommodations early.

The University of Zurich's Housing Office and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich teamed up to provide helpful resources for students looking for housing in Zurich. The Housing Office of University/ETH Zurich reserves a limited number of rooms for exchange students. You can find details about the room application process here as well as a list of properties here. As there is a limited number of rooms reserved for newly incoming international exchange students, students are advised to apply well in advance. The link to register for housing will be sent to you along with your admission letter to UZH. They also provide an overview of useful addresses, if you’re looking for reasonably priced accommodation as well as accommodation at short notice. The accommodation can be furnished or unfurnished and it can be available temporarily or open-ended. The Housing Office also offers help with the search for private accommodations such as apartments, lodgings in private homes or rooms in a shared flat.

Another useful link for students looking for accommodation from outside Switzerland is the University of Zurich and ETH “Marktplatz”. There, students can post when they have rooms available in their apartment for rent.

In all cases, students should be prepared to devote several days to intensive search for accommodation upon arrival to Zurich.

COSTS

To view the costs for this program, click the "costs" link at the top of this page. This will direct you to a line-item breakdown of how much the program costs and what is included in those costs.

The University of Zurich offers a scholarship specific for a NAU student who is nominated for exchange to study for either a semester or academic year. The scholarship is either $5,000 to one student studying for an academic year or two scholarships of about $2,500 to two students studying for a semester. Awards are limited! For more information, speak to your Education Abroad Advisor, Michelle Harvancik, about this amazing opportunity!

We also recommend checking out our other scholarship opportunities here!

REQUIREMENTS

The requirements for this program are:

2.5 GPA

To take coursework in German, students must have completed GER303 or GER304W

To take coursework in English, there is no language requirement

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to this program, all you need to do is hit the "Apply Now" button found at the top of this page. Once applied, you will have your own personal study abroad page, with a checklist of items needed in order to complete your application. Once you complete your application, you will be charged a non-refundable application fee of $100.

Once you have submitted all your completed NAU application and items, we will nominate you to this program. After this, you will apply directly to this university with an application.

TALK TO AN ADVISOR

If you would like to talk to an advisor about this program, you can find his/her name at the top of the brochure page. To make an appointment, or view walk-in hours for this advisor, please visit the "Talk to an Advisor" section.